Mumbai judges reject anticipatory bail for two university students

Mumbai judges recently denied anticipatory bail to two students from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Officials accused them of raising slogans demanding the release of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam during an October 2025 campus gathering. Seven other students involved in the same incident successfully received bail protection. Student activism on university campuses across India frequently sparks intense legal debates regarding the boundaries of free speech and national security laws.

Memorial Gathering Takes Unexpected Turn

Students originally organized the October 12 event to honor G N Saibaba, who passed away in October 2024. Roughly 10 to 12 individuals gathered near a university hostel between 7:30 pm and 8:30 pm without official permission. Prosecutors stated that participants lit candles, read poems, and put up posters reading "Rest in Power". Judge VB Bohra clarified that paying tribute to Saibaba was not illegal, especially since the Bombay High Court acquitted him in 2024. However, the event shifted focus when participants began shouting slogans for Khalid and Imam.

Investigators Cite Digital Evidence and Ideology

Police confiscated laptops and mobile phones from the accused individuals during their initial probe. Detectives reportedly found digital materials linked to the Communist Party of India (Maoist) on devices belonging to a 32-year-old student from Govandi and a 23-year-old student from Deonar. The judge noted that simply downloading such literature is not a crime by itself. Still, courts must evaluate these actions alongside other serious allegations. Custodial interrogation is now necessary to understand their true intentions behind the event. Authorities also mentioned that the Govandi resident has ties to the Progressive Student Forum, while the Deonar student faces an earlier police complaint from 2025 involving threats to an officer.